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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Dominique Archie scored 18 points and South Carolina pulled away for a 90-66 victory over Georgia Southern on Monday night.

Devan Downey added 14 points, Brandis Raley-Ross scored 13 and Mike Holmes added 12 for the Gamecocks (2-0).

South Carolina took control with 21 unanswered points against the Eagles (1-1), who were picked to finish sixth in the Southern Division of the Southern Conference.

Georgia Southern had a seven-point lead in the first half, but South Carolina scored the final five points of the first half to take a 43-36 lead at the break.

Holmes scored the first two field goals of the second half to start a 16-0 run that lasted the opening 5:12.  Archie connected on a 3-pointer and Lakeem Jackson scored five straight before Holmes finished the run with four straight points.

Ben Drayton scored 15 and Willie Powers scored 14 to pace the Eagles.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)